NREVSD getting big bang for its buck

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District is getting a big bang for its buck when it comes to average spending per student to performance in the classroom according to the Ohio Department of Education.

New Richmond ranks second out of 20 similar Ohio school districts with a performance index of 102.6 against a per pupil spending of $9350. Perry Local leads the similar districts to New Richmond with a performance index of 103.4 but spends $3300 more per pupil ($12,687).

"Our spending is in-line with similar districts and our students continue to perform at a high level," said NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird.

The Performance Index measures the test results of every student, not just those who score proficient or higher. There are six levels on the index and districts receive points for every student in each of these levels. The higher the achievement level, the more the points awarded in the district's index.

Each level receives a multiplier with 1.0 going for proficient, 1.1 for accelerated, 1.2 for advanced, 1.3 for advanced plus, .6 for basic and .3 for limited with a possible score of 120. New Richmond, which received an A on the state report card for meeting 23 of  24 testing indicators, received 34.3 points for students testing at the proficient level, 30.7 for students testing at an accelerated level and 31.3 for students testing at an advanced level.

Only 9.1 percent of New Richmond students tested at a basic level for 5.5 points and 2.4 percent tested at a limited level for .7 points resulting in a state grade of B, which is considered an outstanding result for a district with a high percentage (42.6 for New Richmond) of students below the poverty level.

"We are very thankful for the growth of our students and the hard work of our teachers," said Bird.

New Richmond’s spending of $9350 per student is just $161 more than the state average and is broken down into expenditures of $6195 for classroom instruction and $3155 for non-classroom spending (administrative, building operations and transportation expenses). New Richmond ranks 154^th out of 279 districts of similar size for funds spent on classroom instruction.

You can read the complete state report card for the New Richmond Exempted Village School district at the following link: http://reportcard.education.ohio.gov/Pages/District-Report.aspx?DistrictIRN=045559.

Here’s how New Richmond ranks in spending vs. performance on the latest Ohio Department of Education state report card:

New Richmond's Performance Index:

How New Richmond compares to similar districts (New Richmond is the red dot in the ODE charts):

Spending by districts of similar size (New Richmond is the red dot in the ODE chart):

Spending by all districts in Ohio (New Richmond is the red dot in the ODE charts):

G.A.T.E.S. students out to paint a brighter future

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District G.A.T.E.S. Program is sponsoring a Used Paint Drive Collection to Support Matthew 25 Ministries’ Rainbow Paint Re-blending Program which reuses leftover paint to provide a high-quality, re-blended/recycled latex paint to the poor throughout the U.S. and around the world.

“Rainbow Paint helps low-budget non-profits, schools, and public facilities complete maintenance, rehab, and upgrade projects at a low cost,” said NREVSD Gifted Coordinator Rachel Reynolds. “It enhances the quality of life for recipient individuals and organizations by improving and beautifying physical surroundings.”

G.A.T.E.S. students will have Drop-Off Stations at Locust Corner Elementary, Monroe Elementary and New Richmond Elementary during Parent-Teacher Conference nights Thursday, Feb. 5 (3:30 pm and 5:00-8:30 pm,) and Tuesday, Feb. 10 (3:30 pm and 5:00-8:00 pm). Drop off points will be  inside the front doors by the main school offices.

The students will be accepting original 1-gallon and 5-gallon latex paint containers with original labels only. No empty or almost empty cans will be accepted.

“The Rainbow Paint Re-blending Program reduces the amount of hazardous waste being deposited in landfills, public waterways and sewer systems,” said Mrs. Reynolds. “It also helps prevent poison exposures through accidental human contact or consumption of excess and leftover paint.”

Doug Foote honored by state association

Doug Foote, New Richmond High School athletic director/dean of students, has received the Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s Citation award in recognition of exceptional time, effort, and energy devoted to the OIAAA.

Mr. Foote also has been nominated as the next Secretary for the Southwest Ohio Athletic Administrators Association (SWOAA) and currently serves as a board member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Southwest District.

Each year, SWOADA recognizes and honors individuals within the Association for their dedication to the student/athletes, schools and communities they serve.

“Doug's dedication and hard work has gone a long way in providing New Richmond High School with a strong voice at the district, regional, and state levels in athletic/academic competitions,” said New Richmond High School Principal Mark Bailey.

Mr. Foote has been New Richmond’s athletic director since August of 2008. A graduate of Lynchburg-Clay High School and Morehead State University, Mr. Foote coached basketball for 26 years, including at the college level at Rio Grande University and Marietta College, where he was the men’s basketball coach for 15 years before coming to New Richmond.

NREVSD joins SaferOh tip line

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District has signed up for Ohio’s new SaferOH tip line which allows students and adults to anonymously share information with school officials and law enforcement about threats to student safety whether it involves a threatened mass incident or harm to a single student.

Calls or texts to 844-SaferOH (844-723-3764) are answered by analysts in the Ohio Homeland Security’s Threat Assessment and Prevention (TAP) Unit.  When action is needed, the TAP Unit immediately forwards information to local school officials, local law enforcement agencies and other involved agencies.

“The safety of our boys and girls remains the top priority of our schools,” said Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Richard A. Ross. “The SaferOH tip line provides another resource for schools and school districts in their continuing efforts to provide a safe and secure educational environment.”

Research shows that in 81 percent of violent incidents in U.S. schools, someone other than the attacker knew something was occurring or was about to occur but failed to report it, typically out of fear of being a “snitch” or becoming the target of the attacker or bully as well.

School safety analysts may ask for additional information, but the caller can remain secret or leave his or her contact information for later follow-up.

Strong start for Science Olympiad team

New Richmond Middle School's Science Olympiad team sent a strong message to its Cincinnati area competition that it's on track to defend its Cincinnati Regional Championship with a strong show in January's Northmont Invitational.

The NRMS Team Black came in third overall among middle school participating at Northmont and was the top team from the Cincinnati area ahead of teams from Mason and Milford. Only Centerville's Tower Heights and Magsig middle schools finished ahead of New Richmond, who took a first in the fossils event, second in both Entomology and Experimental Design and 12 top 6 ribbons. NRMS' Team Red came in 13th. in the 22-school invitational.

New Richmond Middle School's Science Olympiad team began the season
with a strong showing at the Northmont Invitational.

"The point spread between our two teams was less than the spread between Magsig and Mason's second teams," noted Ursula Miller, executive director of the  New Richmond Schools Education Foundation which sponsors the New Richmond Science Olympiad team. "That's encouraging because it shows the strength of our overall program. Our second team even beat Magsig's second team. This is worth noting because Magsig's program is one of the strongest in the nation and often places in the top three at nationals."

Science Olympiad is a rigorous academic competitions for middle and high school students. The season stretches from October to May and involves 23 topics that cover college-level material in science, technology, engineering and math.

"I am proud of our results for many reasons," added Miller. "Most important, we overcame significant challenges this year to transition into a new organizational structure with 19 community coaches and another half dozen parent volunteers helping with after school and weekend practices. Most of these volunteers had never coached an academic team until now.

"Together we have maintained and added to the impressive legacy created by NRMS science teachers Josh Grischow, Pam Hughes and Tina Grippa. A very special thanks goes to Mrs. Hughes. We wouldn't have a program if she hadn't stuck with us. We also are grateful for Supt. Adam Bird and NRMS principal Court Lilly for their support as we moved into this new era of a community run program."

Event coaches include:
• Pam Hughes (NRMS science teacher; coach for Experimental Design, second place)
• Dean Miller
• Beth Childers (NREVSD substitute teacher; coach for first-place for fossils team)
• Dr. Adrienne Hammill
• Rob Hammill
• Keri Weinstock
• Amy Weiskittel
• Karen Cahall (NRE teacher)
• Tracy Maguire (Speech pathologist at NRE; coach for Entomology, second place)
• Karen Bezold
• Andrea Schultz (NRMS teacher)
• Kim Colangelo
• Alicia Walls (West Clermont teacher)
• Jerry Noble
• Pat Crowley (NRHS science teacher)
• Kevin Gastrich
• Joey Hammill (NRHS student)
• Travis Justice (NRHS student)
• Eric Williams (NRHS student)

"As for the students, they are an exceptional group," said Miller. "Not only are they dedicated to Science Olympiad, most play sports and participate in a variety of other extra-curricular activities throughout this program's long season."

Next up for the NRMS team is the Magsig invitational competition Jan. 24 where 32 teams will be competing.

Four selected for NRHS Hall of Fame

A former coach who delivered league titles in two sports, a three-sport star who exceled in the classroom, a former school board member who set a standard for volunteering and a pitcher who pitched a no-hitter for the school’s first district baseball title make up the 2015 class of the New Richmond Lions Sports Hall of Fame.

Joe Moon, Eric McMonigle, Dave Hawkins and Donnie Morrison will be inducted at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31 at the annual Hall of Fame banquet at the high school which will follow a 4 p.m. varsity basketball game against Ripley. Banquet tickets are $15 and available at the high school.

Joe Moon, soccer and basketball coach

During his 16 years as a soccer and basketball coach at New Richmond High School, Joe Moon didn't just produce winning teams but winning programs that resulted in four league soccer championships and a league championship in basketball in 1995. Moon took over a soccer program that had won only 10 games in the previous three seasons and developed consistent double-digit winning teams. Moon’s seven-year career record was 66-40-21 but 25 of those losses came in the first two seasons when there was no feeder program for varsity soccer. New Richmond went 13-2-4 in Moon’s third season to start a string of six straight double digit winning seasons and four league titles. Moon was named league coach of the year four times and was the 1988 Ohio High School Soccer Coaches Association East Division II coach of the year in 1988. Moon stepped down from soccer coaching after an undefeated 1993 season (12-0-4) to concentrate on his new varsity basketball coaching duties. Moon produced consistent winning teams during his nine years as varsity basketball coach including two 15-win seasons including 1995 when his team gave New Richmond its only league titles over a 27-year span.

Eric McMonigle, Class of 2006

Eric McMonigle was a 7-time first team Southern Buckeye Conference all-star whose athletic achievements in football, basketball and baseball were matched in the classrooms at New Richmond High School. McMonigle, who was named academic all-state in basketball in 2006, was a 4-time first team All-SBAAC selection in baseball; a 2-time All-SBAAC selection in basketball including being named co-player of the year in 2005; and a first team All-SBAAC selection in football in 2004 and a Cincinnati Enquirer all-city selection in all three sports. In baseball, Eric was a member of three league and district championship teams in baseball and is the New Richmond career hitting leader with 163 hits which included a 27-game hitting streak. He ranks in the top five in total bases, runs batted in, runs scored, doubles and career batting average (.480). In basketball, Eric ranks third in career scoring with 1,152 points. He was an outstanding running back, kicker and defender in football and only an injury his senior year prevented him from being named first-time All-SBAAC for a second time. He owns the record for longest field goal at 49 yards and career kickoff touchback record which included a string of 19 in a row during his junior year.  Eric attended the University of Kentucky after graduation and made the UK football team as a walk-on at linebacker and defensive end.

Donnie Morrison, Class of 1985

The mark of a great athlete is how they perform in crucial situations and no one performed better than Donnie Morrison when he took the mound in the spring of 1985 and pitched a no-hitter against Wyoming to give New Richmond High School its first district championship in baseball. On days when he didn’t have his best on the mound, Morrison would rise to the challenge. Earlier in the 1985 tournament against Hamilton Badin, Morrison struggled and coach Jim Robinson was forced to remove him early in the game. “When the succeeding relief pitchers couldn’t hold Badin and we saw our season slipping away, I played a hunch that Donnie would rise to the challenge and brought him back in,” said Robinson. Morrison not only shut down Badin the rest of the way, but he also led a series of two-out rallies that lifted the Lions past Badin. Besides his no-hitter, Morrison’s outstanding accomplishments included a school record 11 wins in 1985 and a senior year batting average of .521 with 50 hits and 37 runs batted in. He ranks in the top 10 in career pitching with 15 wins, a 2.24 ERA and 108 strikeouts and in career hitting with 81 hits, 31 stolen bases, 32 walks and 121 total bases. He was selected to 1st team all-l league and all-city and all-state. Donnie also played basketball and was an outstanding cross country runner for the Lions.

Dave Hawkins, school board/volunteer

Dave Hawkins is being remembered for his many years of dedicated service to the New Richmond Exempted Village School District which included 22 years as a member of the Board of Education and nearly 30 years of volunteer work. Mr. Hawkins died July 10, 2014 at the age of 62 after a long battle with cancer. In addition to his tenure on the New Richmond Board of Education, Mr. Hawkins spent 14 years as New Richmond’s representative on the U.S. Grant Vocational School board. His legacy as a volunteer includes 27 years of operating the football scoreboard for freshman, JV and Varsity games; 26 years as the official scorer for New Richmond freshman, JV and Varsity basketball games; and many years as scoreboard operator and timer for league, district and NR track meets. He also started the New Richmond Middle School wrestling program and served as tournament director for 12 years and scorer for 16 years. His years of dedication earned Mr. Hawkins the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s the “Friends of Athletics Award” from the SW District Athletic Board.

Monroe sends truckload of toys to orphans

Collecting gifts for worthy causes in lieu of a student holiday gift exchange has become a holiday tradition at New Richmond’s Monroe Elementary tradition and this year's effort, spearheaded by 6th grader Zach Laub, resulted in a truckload of toys going to orphans at St. Joseph Orphanage.

"Zach Laub is an awesome student and person," said Monroe 6th grade teacher Lauren Bota. " He came to me early in the school year and asked about a toy drive for orphans and I thought it sounded like an amazing idea.  We sent out a letter to all teachers and ended up having school wide participation."

Zach's “Drive for the Orphans,” got quick approval from Mrs. Bota and Monroe principal Joe Roach.

"A 'Drive for the Orphans,' was something that Zach Laub felt compelled to do," said Nikki Laub, Zach's mother. "He wanted to put together a collection of items for those in need and less fortunate and once his idea received the approval of Mrs. Bota and Mr. Roach, countless hours of planning began."

Mrs. Laub, with help from Zach's younger borther Austin and older brother Nick and other volunteers, transported the truckload of items to St. Joseph.

"As a parent and community member, I could not be more proud of the efforts and intentions of the Monroe students, staff and administration," said Mrs. Laub. "These children and young adults learn a valuable lesson of what it is to give, rather than to receive during the holiday season."

"With the help of Mrs. Laub, who transported the toys and items to the orphanage, this was a full success," said Mrs. Bota. "We are so proud of Zach."

New Richmond sets food drive record

New Richmond Exempted Village School District students and staff were in a giving mood this holiday season resulting in record donation of 26,891 food items to the New Richmond Village Pantry.

New Richmond High School crushed its previous record in leading district schools in giving.

New Richmond High School math teacher Will Shoemaker (standing center) and his class are pictured with some of the 5906 food items they collected for the New Richmond Food Pantry.

New Richmond Middle School students
box 6668 food items they collected during
the district’s 2014 food drive which
 resulted in a district record of 26,891 items
collected for the New Richmond Food Pantry.

“I want to thank each of you for all that you did to make this the best food drive ever,” said Jim Robinson, NRHS food drive chairman. “We ended with a total of 14,920 items and collected $1590.49. We crushed the previous record set last year of 12,252.”

New Richmond Middle School collected 6,668 items, followed by Locust Corner Elementary with 2527, New Richmond Elementary with 1559 and Monroe Elementary with 1217, all exceeding their goals. Locust Corner also raised $175 in donations for the Food Pantry.

Will Shoemaker’s New Richmond High School math class was the district leader with 5,906 items donated including enough Ramen noodles to fill a pickup truck.

“Hopefully our efforts helped some families during the Christmas season,” said Robinson.

The Food Pantry estimates that Monroe Elementary’s donation along helped 180 households and approximately 275 children.

Volunteers from the New Richmond Food Pantry load a pickup truck with Ramen noodles collected by New Richmond High School students who set a record with 14,920 food items and $1590 during the 2014 New Richmond Exempted Village School District food drive.